Kiteman - I believe you spoke too soon. Yes, we have speculated on WB8 for sometime. But take a look at the Contract Line Items (CDRL), and read the statement of work. That is all new information.

This solicitation presents the best picture of the goals and work to be done that we have seen to date. I suggest following the links to see what the navy is actually signing off on. For example, I found this paragraph from the statement of work to be informative:

Quote:

3.1.2 The design shall use circular coils around each main face cusp axis. The device shall use emitter electron gunarrays and an ion beam drive. The machine will be operated in magnetic fields with pulsed currents. WB8 shall beoperated at a magnetic field strength of approximately 0.8 Tesla, which represents an increase of 8 times themagnetic field strength of previous WB machines. Improvements over previous WB machines in WB confinement,ion energy and fusion reactivity are expected as a result of these changes to WB machine design.

Let me make it a little easier for us to get on with the interesting discussions by posting the documents linked in the solicitation. But don't assume that I have found everything of interest, so someone else should follow the links in case I have missed something. It wouldn't be the first time.

3.1.2 The design shall use circular coils around each main face cusp axis. The device shall use emitter electron gunarrays and an ion beam drive. The machine will be operated in magnetic fields with pulsed currents. WB8 shall beoperated at a magnetic field strength of approximately 0.8 Tesla, which represents an increase of 8 times themagnetic field strength of previous WB machines. Improvements over previous WB machines in WB confinement,ion energy and fusion reactivity are expected as a result of these changes to WB machine design.

Sounds very much like "Improvements over previous WB machines...are expected [..or else...forget any more money!!]"

3.1.2 The design shall use circular coils around each main face cusp axis. The device shall use emitter electron gunarrays and an ion beam drive. The machine will be operated in magnetic fields with pulsed currents. WB8 shall beoperated at a magnetic field strength of approximately 0.8 Tesla, which represents an increase of 8 times themagnetic field strength of previous WB machines. Improvements over previous WB machines in WB confinement,ion energy and fusion reactivity are expected as a result of these changes to WB machine design.

Sounds very much like "Improvements over previous WB machines...are expected [..or else...forget any more money!!]"

Good idea. If they don't come within experimental error explanations will be required. Why is it worse than expected? Or more optimistically why is it better?

An 8X increase in field strength implies a 64 X increase in power. Unless the coils are cooled by LN2 or better yet LHe. With LHe at 20K and Cu it might be possible to get the increased current with no increase in power (except for the batteries and external wiring).

Kiteman - I believe you spoke too soon. Yes, we have speculated on WB8 for sometime. But take a look at the Contract Line Items (CDRL), and read the statement of work. That is all new information.

How interesting! When I looked at it this AM when I first read your post there was nothing but the original synopsis. Now there is the change link that leads to all sorts of interesting things. Aero, I do own you an apology. Please consider this your apology

3.2.1 Enhanced Ion Drive with PB11 (proton/boron 11): Based on the results of WB8 testing, and the availabilityof government funds the contractor shall develop a WB machine (WB8.1) which incorporates the knowledge andimprovements gained in WB8. It is expected that higher ion drive capabilities will be added, and that a “PB11”reaction will be demonstrated.

Kiteman - You don't really owe an apology to me. But I'll accept it anyway. But the links were there when I first posted and much different when I went back the second time (same stuff, different structure) so maybe you caught them during an update, who knows what the status was when you first checked.

I found the statement of work (SOW) quite interesting, especially when they talk of doing pb11 fusion with WB8.1 . Also about delivering specifications for a new device, WB9, to be a 100 MW machine if all goes well with the work on WB8 and WB8.1. The SOW also talks about computer simulations and improved understanding of scaling, to be presented to a big review within 40 days of end of contract. (Before? After?) Good stuff.

Kiteman - You don't really owe an apology to me. But I'll accept it anyway. But the links were there when I first posted and much different when I went back the second time (same stuff, different structure) so maybe you caught them during an update, who knows what the status was when you first checked.

I found the statement of work (SOW) quite interesting, especially when they talk of doing pb11 fusion with WB8.1 . Also about delivering specifications for a new device, WB9, to be a 100 MW machine if all goes well with the work on WB8 and WB8.1. The SOW also talks about computer simulations and improved understanding of scaling, to be presented to a big review within 40 days of end of contract. (Before? After?) Good stuff.

Shouldn't that be 100 milliwatts?

_________________Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

3.2.1 Enhanced Ion Drive with PB11 (proton/boron 11): Based on the results of WB8 testing, and the availabilityof government funds the contractor shall develop a WB machine (WB8.1) which incorporates the knowledge andimprovements gained in WB8. It is expected that higher ion drive capabilities will be added, and that a “PB11”reaction will be demonstrated.

Oooh, they're going for the whole enchilada!

Which says that things are going well indeed. D-D must be a piece of cake. Or what ever they are using to simulate it (He4?)

_________________Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

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